• Drive strategic programme from design through to delivery
• Be part of a values-led organisation committed to environmental stewardship
• Full Time | Fixed Term 12 months – November 2026

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our region.

The region’s evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as we respond to regulatory and environmental changes.

Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our three core services:

• Environmental Regulation and Protection
• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
• Public Transport

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and successful delivery of a large high priority programme of work. You’ll lead a project team ensuring alignment with strategic goals, budgets, and timelines. You’ll collaborate across the organisation and with external stakeholders to deliver high-impact outcomes for our communities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Establish governance, reporting, and decision-making frameworks
• Lead and mentor project managers and coordinators
• Monitor programme performance and financials
• Manage risks, issues, and benefit realisation
• Champion best practice and continuous improvement
• Supporting our journey toward Treaty Partner Excellence with Ngāi Tahu

For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.

Mōu │ About You

You are an experienced Programme Manager who brings strong leadership, strategic insight, and a focus on delivery. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing complex programmes, aligning multiple projects to achieve organisational goals, and delivering results in dynamic environments. You’ll be confident engaging with senior stakeholders, skilled at building relationships across teams, and adept at translating strategy into clear, actionable plans. We’re after someone who thrives on collaboration, drives continuous improvement, and can balance strategic thinking with attention to detail to deliver outcomes that make a real difference.

We value individuals who are adaptable, detail-oriented, and capable of motivating their team to achieve excellence.

• 10+ years’ experience in programme/project management, including 5+ years in leadership, ideally in the public sector
• Proven success delivering large-scale, multi-disciplinary programmes
• Strong leadership and team collaboration skills
• A relevant tertiary qualification and ideally PMP or PgMP certification
• A commitment to te ao Māori and cultural capability development

Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury  

Our mahi is underpinned by our values:

• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)
• Pononga (integrity)
• Manaakitanga (people first)
• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)
• Māiatanga (can do)

We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment. We value everyone’s contribution, diverse thinking, and skills.

We're on a journey to become a treaty partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Māori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Māori journey.

Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information

Applications close on Sunday, 16 November.  Applications will be reviewed as we receive them, and interviews may take place before the close date. We reserve the right to close advertising early.  

Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. 

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.

Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can